SUVA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tonga held its general election on Thursday, electing 17 people's representatives and nine noble representatives in the Legislative Assembly.

According to Tonga's Electoral Commission Office, 10 out of 17 people's representative seats are retained by incumbents.

Prime Minister Aisake Eke retained his seat in his constituency with 72.93 percent of the vote, making him the candidate with the most votes.

While the kingdom's nobles also elected nine of their own representatives, seven of whom were re-elected.

A total of 71 candidates for the people's seats and 14 nobles were standing for election to the nobles' seats.

The office said this year's election saw a lower turnout, with less than 50 percent of registered voters casting their ballots.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 26 members, of which 17 are directly elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves. Enditem